1980 NFL Season
Leaders
Passing Yards: Fouts (SDG) - 4,740...Manning (NOR) - 4,455...Zorn (SEA) - 3,729...Bartkowski (ATL) - 3,649...Dickey (GNB) - 3,516
Rushing Yards: Campbell (HOU) - 1,966...Andrews (ATL) - 1,369...Anderson (SLC) - 1,351...Payton (CHI) - 1,306...Cribbs (BUF) - 1,206
Receiving Yards: Jefferson (SDG) - 1,392...Winslow (SDG) - 1,319...Joiner (SDG) - 1,203...Chandler (NOR) - 1,194...Tilley (SLC) - 1,118
Scoring: Fritsch (HOU) - 126...Mazzetti (ATL) - 121...Smith (NWE) - 121...Corral (LAM) - 110...Danmeier (MIN) - 110
Interceptions: Parrish (WAS) - 14...Breeden (CIN) - 13...Hayes (OAK) - 12...Five Players with - 5
Sacks: Youngblood (LAM) - 13...Browner (CIN) -12...Hampton (CHI) - 12...Merrow (ATL) - 11...Four Players with - 10
Division Winners
AFC East - New England (10-6)
AFC Central - Houston (14-2)
AFC West - Oakland (10-6)
AFC Wildcard - Cleveland (10-6)
AFC Wildcard - Kansas City (9-6-1)
NFC East - Dallas (10-6)
NFC Central - Green Bay (12-4)
NFC West - Los Angeles (12-4)
NFC Wildcard - Atlanta (12-4)
NFC Wildcard - Minnesota (9-7)
PLAYOFFS
Kansas City (21) at Cleveland (9)
Minnesota (0) at Atlanta (19)
Kansas City (13) at Houston (10)
New England (37) at Oakland (7)
Dallas (13) at Green Bay (21)
Atlanta (15) at Los Angeles (28)
Passing Yards: Fouts (SDG) - 4,740...Manning (NOR) - 4,455...Zorn (SEA) - 3,729...Bartkowski (ATL) - 3,649...Dickey (GNB) - 3,516
Rushing Yards: Campbell (HOU) - 1,966...Andrews (ATL) - 1,369...Anderson (SLC) - 1,351...Payton (CHI) - 1,306...Cribbs (BUF) - 1,206
Receiving Yards: Jefferson (SDG) - 1,392...Winslow (SDG) - 1,319...Joiner (SDG) - 1,203...Chandler (NOR) - 1,194...Tilley (SLC) - 1,118
Scoring: Fritsch (HOU) - 126...Mazzetti (ATL) - 121...Smith (NWE) - 121...Corral (LAM) - 110...Danmeier (MIN) - 110
Interceptions: Parrish (WAS) - 14...Breeden (CIN) - 13...Hayes (OAK) - 12...Five Players with - 5
Sacks: Youngblood (LAM) - 13...Browner (CIN) -12...Hampton (CHI) - 12...Merrow (ATL) - 11...Four Players with - 10
Division Winners
AFC East - New England (10-6)
AFC Central - Houston (14-2)
AFC West - Oakland (10-6)
AFC Wildcard - Cleveland (10-6)
AFC Wildcard - Kansas City (9-6-1)
NFC East - Dallas (10-6)
NFC Central - Green Bay (12-4)
NFC West - Los Angeles (12-4)
NFC Wildcard - Atlanta (12-4)
NFC Wildcard - Minnesota (9-7)
PLAYOFFS
Kansas City (21) at Cleveland (9)
Minnesota (0) at Atlanta (19)
Kansas City (13) at Houston (10)
New England (37) at Oakland (7)
Dallas (13) at Green Bay (21)
Atlanta (15) at Los Angeles (28)
AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
January 11th, 1981 at Schaeffer Stadium...Temp 20, Cloudy, Wind 4 mph (head/tailwind)
The New England Patriots scored 21 first half points and were then shutout in the second half, but held on for a 21-17 win to advance to Super Bowl XV.
New England's first score was set up after John Zamberlin sacked Kansas City quarterback Steve Fuller causing Fuller to fumble. Zamberlin recovered the fumble at the Chief's seven yard line. Four plays later Don Calhoun ran in from five yards out to put the Patriots up 7-0. The Chiefs tied the game on the second play of the second quarter. Horace Belton found paydirt on a three yard run to tie the game at 7-7. The game wasn't tied long as the Patriots went right back on top with a 12 yard touchdown pass from Matt Cavanaugh to Russ Francis. Just after the two minute warning for the first half Calhoun scored his second TD of the game to make it 21-7 as the game headed into halftime. Late in the third quarter Fuller threw a short two yard TD pass to Ted McKnight to pull the Chiefs within a touchdown at 21-14. Patriots kicker John Smith missed a 42 yard field goal and the game went into the fourth quarter still at 21-14. The Chiefs put together a drive that stalled at the New England 27 yard line. Kicker Nick Lowery came on for 44 yard field goal attempt, but he missed. New England went three and out and Chiefs again drove into Patriot territory. This time Lowery connected on a 48 yard field goal to make it 21-17 with 4:51 to play in the game. New England went three and out, as did the Chiefs. KC elected to punt and play defense to get the ball back. It worked to some extent as they forced the Patriots to punt with 1:38 remaining. The Chiefs took over at their own 46 yard line needing a TD to win. A scramble, sack and two incompletions however, ended the game. New England heads to Super Bowl XV. MVP: John Zamberlin LB (NWE) Four tackles, one sack, two passes defended, one forced fumble, two recovered fumbles. For Kansas City, James Hadnot, 38yds, Horace Belton 28yds, TD...Steve Fuller 14/32, 269yds, TD...JT Smith 5rec, 123yds...Henry Marshall 4rec, 103yds...Art Still 8 tackles For New England, Vagas Ferguson 65yds...Don Calhoun 2TD...Steve Grogan 9/15, 68yds...Matt Cavanaugh 7/9, 112yds, TD...Harold Jackson 4rec, 70yds...Russ Francis 4rec, 31yds, TD...Roland James 2 sk...Mel Lunsford 2 sk...Tony McGee 2 sk |
NFC Championship - Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams
January 11th, 1981 at Anaheim Stadium...Temp 47, Clear Skies, Wind 7 mph (Slight Crosswind)
The Los Angeles Rams built a 21-0 halftime lead and combined that with a stifling defense, to dominate Green Bay 35-7 and advance to Super Bowl XV.
The Rams took a 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game when Vince Ferragamo connected on a six yard TD pass to Preston Dennard. Late in the first quarter the Packers had a good drive stopped when Gerry Ellis fumbled at the Rams 30 yard line. Ferragamo turned that turnover into points as he threw his second TD pass of the game to Dennard to put the Rams up 14-0 early in the second quarter. Later in the first half Elvis Peacock ran in a score from 11 yards out and the Rams took a comfortable 21-0 lead into the locker room. The Packers broke through for their only score of the day on the first possession of the second half. Gerry Ellis ran in from seven yards out and it was a 21-7 game. The back breaker for the Packers came on their next possession. Lynn Dickey was intercepted by Nolan Cromwell at the Packers 18 yard line. He returned the pick down to the eight yard line. Wendell Tyler found paydirt on a seven yard run to make it a 28-7 game. After that the Rams D never let the Packers close to scoring again. Peacock later scored his second TD of the game and the Rams locked up the convincing win. MVP: Vince Ferragamo (LA Rams) Passing:181 yards, 2 TD, 123 Rating, 17 yards rushing For Green Bay, Eddie Lee Ivery 64yds rushing...Lynn Dickey 15/28, 130yds, INT...James Lofton 5rec, 28yds...Paul Coffman 4rec, 51yds...Kurt Allerman 11tkl For Los Angeles, Elvis Peacock 62yds rushing, 2TD...Cullen Bryant 61yds rushing...Vince Ferragamo 12/20, 181yds, 2TD...Preston Dennard 6rec, 71yds, 2TD...Billy Waddy 3rec, 84yds...Nolan Cromwell 7tkl, 1INT |
Super Bowl XV - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
January 25th, 1981 at The Louisiana Superdome...Dome Stadium
The Superdome in New Orleans is the site of Super Bowl XV. This Super Bowl will go down as one of the most dramatic, miraculous, astounding, game in championship history.
The Patriots received the opening kick and marched right down the field and grabbed a 7-0 lead. Don Calhoun ran in from six yards out and five minutes into the game we get the first points. The Rams then took the ensuing kick off and counter punched with a touchdown drive of their own. Elvis Peacock finished the drive with a two yard TD run and the game was now tied at 7-7. It started to look like the defenses didn't show up to the game because New England went right back down the field to regain the lead. Vagas Ferguson scored on a 14 yard run and New England was back on top 14-7. The first quarter ended with 21 points scored. After forcing the Rams to punt, New England extended their lead on a 28 yard field goal by John Smith. It was now 17-7 in favor of New England. After that field goal the defenses arrived and neither team moved the ball much and four straight punts occurred. Just before the two minute warning, the Rams came up with a big defensive play as Leroy Irvin intercepted Matt Cavanaugh's pass and returned it to the Patriot 24 yard line. The Rams settled for a 35 yard field goal from Frank Corral to make it 17-10 at the half. The Rams received the ball to start the second half, but their short drive stalled out. New England countered with a 43 yard field goal by Smith to push their lead back to 10 points at 20-10. Vince Ferragamo then led the Rams on a time consuming seven minute drive that ended early in the 4th quarter. It was capped off by a one yard TD run by Cullen Bryant making the score 20-17 with just over 11 minutes left in the game. Neither team could have predicted what would happen in those 11 minutes. The Patriots went three and out and punted the ball back to the Rams with just over nine minutes to play. Ferragamo put together a masterful, time consuming drive moving the Rams down the field. They converted at third and two, a third and one and with just over two minutes left faced a third and six from the Patriots 31 yard line. Ferragamo tossed a short pass to Drew Hill who gained three yards and fumbled while going to the ground. Irv Pankey recovered for the Rams, leaving them with a decision. Attempt a long game tying field goal, or go for it to keep the drive alive. The call was made to go for it. Mike Guman took a handoff and went off tackle gaining four yards and a first down. Guman then gained five yards and caught a pass for 13 yards. The Rams now had first and ten at the Patriot 13 yard line with1:21 on the clock. Guman came out of the game and Bryant was inserted back in at the tailback spot. On second and seven from the 10 yard line, Bryant took a handoff up the middle and didn't stop until he bulled into the endzone giving the Rams the lead. With the extra point, the Rams now had their first lead of the game, 24-20 and just 1:02 remaining. The Patriots got the ball at their own 19 yard line and just 54 seconds left to play. A couple of Cavanaugh completions and an offside penalty by the Rams moved the ball to the 39 yard line with 26 seconds left. On the next play, Cavanaugh made a short completion, but was shaken up. Off the bench and into the game came Steve Grogan. Grogan tossed a short completion to Andy Johnson moving the ball to midfield. Just 11 seconds remained. Then everything changed. Grogan threw up a long prayer to Stanley Morgan that Morgan couldn't get to. Why couldn't he get to the ball? Because of a pass interference penalty on the Rams. The 32 yard penalty put the ball at the Rams 18 yard line with just two seconds left in the game. Time for one last shot for the Patriots. Grogan dropped back, the pass protection held, and he spotted Harold Jackson coming open. He sent a pass in Jackson's direction and Jackson cradled the ball in the back of the endzone. Touchdown New England! Time expired, the game was over. The New England Patriots are world champs. Stunning the Rams on the last play of the game. Also adding to the miracle play, Jackson spent five years playing for the Rams. Smith was told to kick the extra point and he did. The final score, 27-24. MVP: John Zamberlin (NEW) 4 Tackles, 1 Stuff, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble (Also AFC Championship game MVP) For New England, Vagas Ferguson 75 yds rushing, TD...Don Calhoun 44 yds rushing, TD...Matt Cavanaugh 15/24, 158 yds, INT...Steve Grogan 2/2, 27 yds, TD...Stanley Morgan 60 yds receiving...Harold Jackson 47 yds receiving, TD For Los Angeles, Elvis Peacock 71 yds rushing, TD...Cullen Bryant 48 yds rushing, 2 TD...Vince Ferragamo 16/26, 158 yds, Billy Waddy 34 yds receiving |